Bolivian Organizations Block Roads in Support of Evo Morales
Cars stranded on a Bolivian highway, Oct. 14, 2024. X/ @LaRazon_Bolivia
October 14, 2024 Hour: 10:28 am
The leader of the Movement Towards Socialism remains in the Tropic of Cochabamba area.
On Monday, Bolivian social and political organizations blocked roads in solidarity with former President Evo Morales, whom the Prosecutor’s Office summoned to testify in a case of human trafficking and statutory rape.
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The Bolivian Highway Administration (ABC) confirmed that pro-Evo protesters are blocking two locations on the highway connecting Cochabamba and Santa Cruz and have set up another blockade point on the old route between these departments. Earlier, they also attempted to establish a blockade near the town of Parotani on the highway connecting Cochabamba with the western part of the country.
Currently, the Bolivian Prosecutor’s Office is investigating Morales for possible crimes of “human trafficking” and “statutory rape” involving a minor with whom he allegedly had a child.
The leader of the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) was scheduled to testify on Friday before the Prosecutor’s Office in Tarija, where the alleged incidents occurred. However, he did not attend, and his defense submitted a legal excuse.
Tarija Prosecutor Sandra Gutierrez announced that an arrest warrant would be issued against Morales to compel him to testify. So far, however, it is unclear whether the document has been issued.
Currently, Morales remains in the central part of the country, where supporters are monitoring the entrances to the Tropic of Cochabamba area, the headquarters of the six federations of coca farmers.
Through social media, Morales accused President Luis Arce of having constructed “a judicial and violent path to end the process of change.” He also emphasized that the Bolivian government seeks “through rulings” to disqualify his candidacy for the 2025 presidential elections.
“We are not afraid of them. Abuse and violence have always found a democratic response in us. And our candidacy represents the real alternative that the Bolivian people have to overcome the crisis, as we did in 2005,” Morales said.
On Monday, in an apparent reference to the conflict with Morales, President Arce reiterated, “Children are not to be harmed. They are our treasure.” Since late 2021, Arce and Morales have been at odds over differences in the administration of the state, which deepened due to the need to renew the national leadership of MAS and choose a candidate for the 2025 presidential elections.
teleSUR/ JF Source: EFE
